Some filmmakers start the social media process very early in production (Nina Paley started blogging three years before she released “Sita Sings the Blues”); some begin only after their films hit the festival circuit. However you do it, social media isn’t just setting up a Facebook and Twitter account; social media means anywhere you can share a link, comment on a post, or self-publish content for everyone to read, watch or listen. And it’s always a work in progress.

Here’s five of my best tips on using social media to build an audience.
1) Don’t spend all of your time talking about your film.
Constant selling is boring and that’s counterproductive: You’re trying to build interest. This is why you should be careful about entrusting outside agencies with building and maintaining your social media presence: They can’t effectively be the voice of your work.

Think about what interests your audience in their daily lives and why they would be attracted to you as an artist and to your film; then, present them with news and information that aligns with it.

Call for Submissions: The Heineken Voces GrantTFI has made it a goal to not only seek out unheralded projects from around the world but also help foster the development of filmmakers living and working here in the United States. That’s what brought the Tribeca All Access (TAA) program into fruition and what’s propelled it to advocate for idiosyncratic and refreshing subject matter.

Over the years, TAA’s succeeded in highlighting stories that go beyond common parameters of theme and characterization. Having seen this continued investment towards underrepresented works pay off through the years, TFI’s now expanded on this idea and launched the Heineken Voces grant, which supports US-based Latino filmmakers working on a feature-length narrative or documentary project that offers a new perspective on their cultural experience.

Starlight Runner Entertainment topper Jeff Gomez has come aboard as a “transmedia producer” for Valiant Entertainment’s efforts to build up its superhero characters across films, vidgames and other digital formats.

Gomez has worked on the “transmedia” elements for “Avatar,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Transformers,” “Tron” and “Halo” with the idea that the concept of the bible – a document containing backstory information that film and TV writers rely on for building plots and characters – is taken to the new level of developing a piece of intellectual property in a consistent manner across multiple media platforms.

Gomez worked at Valiant between 1992 and 1998 as a writer on “Eternal Warrior” and “Master Darque” and line editor on “Ninjak” and “Bloodshot.”

“This is a homecoming for me,” he told Variety. “When I worked there previously, we were already paying mind to the fans and exploring that the young people would want to interact with the characters more extensively.”

Just as her action movie Colombiana opens across the country, Zoe Saldana has set up the supernatural thriller Dominion at Paramount.

The pitch hails from Dean McCreary and Chester Hastings and while plot details remain sketchy, the story centers on a woman (Saldana) who is half-human, half-angel.

Saldana will also serve as a producer on the project, alongside Robbie Brenner. Brenner is a producer on the Gerard Butler drama Machine Gun Preacher, the story of drug-dealing biker-turned-children’s crusader Sam Childers and it was on that project where she first crossed paths with McCreary and Hastings; the duo had worked on an earlier incarnation of Childers’ story.

Guillermo Del Toro Interview, Part II: “The most important element of filmmaking is your freedom.”(indieWIRE) – Del Toro spoke with iW about his interest in the “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” property, and why he continues to approach everything in Hollywood with trepidation. FULL STORY

Review: ‘Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark’(Latin Horror) – Guillermo del Toro’s personal films have always pivoted around the notion of children in distress. Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, and Pan’s Labyrinth all fit the mold. FULL STORY

Michelle Rivera-HuckabyNALIPster finishes filming short EncuéntrateNB&M Productions in association with Captain Crazy Productions is proud to announce the completion of filming for their upcoming 30 min. short, Encuéntrate, written by NALIP member Michelle Rivera-Huckaby and directed by fellow NALIP member Sonia Fritz (LPA 2007, LWL 2008), featuring an extraordinary cast of seasoned and up-and-coming actors, produced by Michelle Rivera-Huckaby and shot in location throughout North Georgia.

The film is about a young woman, Anais, who alienates herself from her family and her culture because of issues she thinks she has with her mother. The death of her abuelo brings her face to face with everything she ran away from and bringing her to discover a family secret. Will she learn the importance and strength of faith, family, forgiveness and love?

Boyle Heights, California Casa 0101 Theater proudly presents the 20th Anniversary of NALIP mentor Josefina Lopez’s play Real Women Have Curves to run September 9th through October 23rd, 2011. The 20th anniversary production of Real Women Have Curves, directed by Casa’s new Artistic Director Corky Dominguez, will coincide with the opening of Casa 0101 Theater’s new venue. For reservations visit www.CASA0101.org.

Before it was an award-winning film that launched the career of the talented America Ferrara, Real Women Have Curves was a play written by a then 21 year old Josefina Lopez based on her experience working in her sister’s sewing factory after graduating from high school. The play is told through the eyes of Ana, an 18 year old chubby, pretty girl, with aspirations for a life beyond years and years of puro lomo the hard, back-breaking labor that had been her parent’s lot.

An Opening Night Gala event to commemorate the opening of the venue, the theatre companys 10th season and run of the hit play turned award-winning film Real Women Have Curves, will take place on September 9, 2011 at the new site. The Opening Night Gala will include a pre-show reception, admission to the performance, entrance to the post-show party celebrating the unveiling of the new venue, and more exciting surprises.